Ranger24: Now even the wheather turns against our heros. And I curse a lot in this chapter.
Chapter 16: Thunder roar.
Disclaimer: I own nothing.
The next day when Naruto woke up every part of his body ached. Curising the cold and his pain he sat up. Ranger was once again already up making breakfast, Naruto groaned and rubbed his numerous bruises.
Naruto: You know could you ease up a bit? If this keeps up I probably won't be able to walk by the end of the week.
Ranger: I wouldn't push you so hard if I didn't think you could handle it.
Naruto: You know for once I wouldn't mind being thought less of.
Cortana eyed the pokemon with some indignation.
Cortana: There is no were here for me to hide so I'll just stay above you.
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They rode on for the next few hours as slowly as they could as not to open up Naruto's injuries. Soon they came upon Utgard the lonely mountain. They skirted the bottom of the mountain. Glancing up Naruto saw to his suprise a crumbling tower on the side of the mountain!
Naruto: What is that?
Ranger sighed his face down cast and covered by his hood.
Rnager: That was were Sarutobi fled to hide and were by treachory he was discovered and killed by Xemnas. Edoc 'sil was the name of this bastion, unconquerable in the elven tounge. But it has another name. Ristvakbane the place of sorrow. It was called that by the last riders before Xemnas killed them.
Naruto gazed at the tower in wonder. Here was a standing momento to the riders power, a legacy of courage and heroism that stretched back centuries! He felt rather small and burdened by the mantle he was having to take on.
An hour or two later they reached a series of hills, ditches, gulleys and canyons. They were forced to lead the horses on by foot. The work made them tired and irritable. Naruto was unervered by what he saw. The land below them was yellow with dead grass and it stretched on from horizen to horizen. For all his life he had lived in the mountains. The flatness of the plains made hiim feel rather uncomfortable.
When they reached the plains Ranger scanned the road. It split of here into three directions. One went north to Ceunon one of the largest northern cities. The second lead down south following the mountains. The third and final road went right across the plains.
Ranger stood up a puzzeled expression on his face.
Ranger: It seems they've gone to Yazuac.
Naruto: Bless you.
Ranger: Its the name of a town.
Naruto: Oh.
There was an uncomfortable silence before Naruto spoke again.
Naruto: How far away is Yazuac?
Ranger: Four days away if we don't meet any ill fortune.
Naruto felt the thrill of the hunt rising in him. In a matter of days maybe even a week he would use his arrows to avenge Hohenheim. And then... He didn't want to think of what would happen then.
Ranger pointed to the Anora river which they had been following since Therinsford.
Ranger: The only source of water between here and Yazuac. We'll have to fill our canteens up before we set out. And we should do this at dawn only.
Naruto sighed.
Naruto: So we set up camp again?
Ranger looked up at the sun sheilding his eyes from the glare with his hand.
Ranger: Yeah it's past mid day and dark is in an hour or two. We need to be fully rested before crossing the plains.
After setting up camp and eating dinner they spared as usual. Once again Naruto tried to land a hit on Ranger but everytime Ranger blocked him. Thankfully the session was a little shorter since Ranger said that they need to be fully ready for the next days ride. Cortana joined them shortly after they finished.
Naruto: How do the plains look?
Cortana: Dull, theres nothing but scrub and rabbits for hundreds of miles.
Naruto: Well it probably won't be to bad.
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The next day after setting out Naruto decided it was the wind that made him the most misreable. Its icey fingers went through all wrap and blanket. It dried his skin so much his lips cracked and they bleed, licking them only made it worse. Dirt flew into their eyes and clothes.
Naruto: I take back what I said last night the plains suck.
Ranger: Get used to it kid. We still have three days to go before we get to Yazuac.
Naruto: Crap.
That night when Naruto tried to light a fire for dinner the wind was really a problem. After trying for hours to get the bits of wood and scrub he had gathered to light he handed it over to Ranger.
Naruto: I can't get a spark See if you can do it or else dinner will be cold.
Ranger examined the pile of wood and leaves criticaly and rearanged a few items before striking the flint. There was smoke much but no fire. Scowling he tried again but his luck was as bad as Naruto's.
Ranger: Brisingr.
Finally a second after he spoke the fire started. He stood up and smiled.
Ranger: There we go it must have been smoldering underneath something.
The next two days were spent in much of the same manner. They slowly began to deplete their water supplies and thrist always pained them. The sparring sessions at night were extremely short due to the need to sleep but the sun seemed to set rather slowly every day.
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On third day Naruto woke up actually warm. That coupled with the fact that the wind had stoped put him in a cheery mood. That all changed when he saw a massive wave of dark, low clouds moving towards them. Ranger grimaced at breakfast when he saw the storm.
Ranger: Normally I wouldn't go into a storm like this but we're in for a battering all the same.
They made their way along for a few hours faces grim. It was near mid day when they finally hit the storm front. Naruto noticed a ripple in the grass further along and it moved rapidly towards them. Ranger noticed it to.
Ranger: Brace youself.
Just as the wind was about to hit them a horrible, terrible thought struck him! He turned around in his saddle and shouted with both his voice and mind!
Naruto: Cortana land!
Ranger's face pale and turned Demonwing about. Cortana turned back the way they had come to gain time! As she did the wind hit them! It struck like a sledge hammer nearly knocking Naruto out of Al's saddle! Cortana hit the ground and was just starting to fold her wings when the wind wrenched them open again! She hung there in the air for a moment before the wind slamed her on her back hard!
Naruto: Hang on Cortana!
Naruto dug his heels into Al's sides and the horse ran towards the helpless dragon! Cortana was being thrown around like a rag doll! As they drew near Al bolted and Naruto leapt of the ponyta's back! The wind threw him a few feet forward were he rolled to his feet and ran over too Cortana! She was on the ground again diging in her claws to try and stay in place.
He was about to jump on her wing when the wind grabbed her again and sent her sailing over his head! Her neck spikes missed him by inches! It was about to happen all over again but Naruto leapt on her right wing and pushed with all his might! Cortana did her best to help him but the wind fought to lift her again! Finally her wing right caved in under their combinded strength! As soon as it was tucked against her shoulder he got to work on the left. The wind fought them again but once again they over came it. Panting he clambered into the saddle the wind howling in his ears. Panting he spoke to her.
Naruto: Are you all right?
She was slow to answer. Naruto noticed that she was shaking all over.
Cortana: I think so. Nothings brooken I couldn't do anything the wind picked me up and I couldn't escape it.
Naruto rubbed her scails.
Naruto: Its okay your safe now.
He scanned the area for Al and saw him about halfway to Ranger with his back to the wind. With a flicker of his thoughts he sent the horse over to Ranger. Cortana moved slowly and carefully across the ground wings tucked tight against her scails. As they drew closer to Ranger he shouted over the storm.
Ranger: Is she hurt?
Naruto: No!
Ranger pointed to a something in the distance. It was a massive curtain of ran Naruto swore explosively.
Naruto: What next?!
The rain hit them hard pounding on Cortana's scails and Ranger and Naruto's clothes. Rangers cloak seemed to be taking on a lot of water. All around them lighting and thunder roared like the drums of war! Small fires were started by strikes but were quenched by the rain. As the hours went by Ranger's cloak became soaked through and water started dripping off his hood. When one very large drip hit him in the eye he howled with pain.
Ranger: I hate the rain!! I HATE THE MOTHER FU$ING RAIN!!!
It was a while before the wild elements calmed. The storm finally broke and the sun came out. The grass was no longer yellow and dead like but a vibrant green! Everything about the land seemed fresh and clean. Naruto felt as though he was standing inside a painting. One side was deeply shadowed by the rain and the other bright and shining in the sun light.
Cortana bugled with joy at the ending of the storm. The horses shyed away in fear but Naruto and Ranger only smiled. Ranger removed his soggy cloak and threw it over Demonwing's side. Sighing he turned to face Naruto.
Ranger: Take this to heart kid. There are three things in this world you should never fu$ with. Mother nature, Mother-in-laws, and mother fu$ing fanatics.
Naruto: Why do you curse so much?
Ranger: Its for affect kid.
Naruto raised an eyebrow.
Ranger: Just live with it.
They set up camp for the night. To exhausted to spar they went to sleep right after dinner and Ranger's little bit of writing.
Ranger24: Okay really need to sun dry my cloak. At least nobody was hurt well except my eye and Cortana being really screwed around with. Read and review.